George Davison
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
George was born on 23rd August 1893 in Retford and was the son of Arthur a carter and Mary Dennis Davison, (nee Barnes) of 12, Hospital Rd., Retford. In the 1901 census the family are living at 12 Rectory Place, Retford at this time George is 7 years of age and is living with his parents and two older brothers Arthur 12 years and Walter 10 years of age. By the time of the 1911 census Arthur has died and his wife Mary is shown as a widow and is living at 12 Hospital Road, Retford with her three sons, Arthur 22 years single and working as a trimmer in a dye works, Walter 20 years, single and working on the railway as a platform porter and George 17 years single and working as an apprentice blacksmith. No doubt Mary was full of pride when all three sons enlisted into the army, however during the course of the war she would see that pride turn to grief as tragically first Walter was killed on 28th August 1915 whilst serving with the Sherwood Foresters then Arthur was taken prisoner on 4th April 1917 also while serving with the Sherwood Foresters and finally George was killed on 6th November 1918 whilst serving with the Yorkshire Regiment
George enlisted at Sheffield on 2nd September 1914. He gave his age as 21 years, occupation blacksmith. His medal card states he first saw service in a theatre of war in France on 9th September 1915. George was promoted lance corporal on 20th August 1916. He was killed in action on 6th November 1918 and is buried in Bettrechies Communal Cemetery, Nord, France (grave ref. West End A 10). George qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
George's brother Walter served with the 10th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters (14390 Private), and was killed in action on 28 August 1915. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Thy will be done' Retford Times, 3 January 1919: 'Sergt George Davison' 'Official information has been received from the York Record Office that Sergt George Davison, Yorkshire Regiment, was killed in action with a machine gun bullet on November 6th last in France. He was the youngest son of Mr Arthur Davison and Mrs Davison, 12 Hospital Road, Retford. The deceased who was 25 years of age, joined up on September 2nd 1914, whilst in the employ of Messrs John Brown and Co., Sheffield. He underwent his training at Wendover and Tring, and crossed to France on September 11th 1915. He went through the battles of Loos and the Somme and was for a great part of the time, a company stretcher bearer. He was at Retford at Christmas 1917. He served his apprenticeship in the blacksmiths’ shop at Messrs W J Jenkins and Co. Ltd. Lieut Williams, in a letter of sympathy to Mrs Davison, wrote that her son was one of the best sergeants, and always did his duty so cheerfully and conscientiously. 'Mrs Davison’s second son, Pte Walter Davison, Notts and Derbys was killed on August 28th 1915 in France. He was 24 years of age and was formerly a porter at Retford G.N. Station. Pte Arthur Davison, Sherwood Foresters, the eldest son is on two weeks leave of absence. He was taken prisoner on April 4th 1917 and arrived at Retford on December 8th. He was in his captivity employed for a year on the railway and on the land at Stuttgart 11, Wurttemburg, and left on November 17th via Boulogne for Dover. Before the war, Pte Davison was in the employ of Messrs Clark and Co. at the Dye Works. He joined the Army in July 1916.' Research by Colin Dannatt
